Impact: Bruno Mars Returns with ’24k Magic’

Bruno Mars’ first two albums positioned him as one of pop’s most reliable forces: Doo-Wops & Hooligans boldly put him on our radar and Unorthodox Jukebox exposed listeners to even greater range. “Uptown Funk,” Mars’ blockbuster collaboration with Mark Ronson, sounded like Motown icing on the cake, dominating the Billboard charts, earning a Record of the Year GRAMMY, and achieving RIAA Diamond certification. A rare feat.

Two record-breaking Super Bowl Halftime Show appearances in three years confirmed the irrefutable: Bruno Mars is perhaps our most dynamic, magnetic pop star. So what’s next?

Friday, the Hawaiian born singer will release his third studio album 24K Magic. The highly anticipated new album has already spawned Mars’s 35th Billboard Hot 100 hit single and a world tour announcement, but curious fans are most interested to know what 24K Magic sounds like.

“It’s what we want to bring to the table musically,” Mars told Zane Lowe. The feel-good album, Mars further reveals, embraces the spirited music of the ‘90s “when it was okay to party, to be flashy, to get on the dance floor.”

Mars’ catalog runs the gamut from hip-hop to doo-wop and pure, classic pop. The magnitude of his success is daunting.

The hit maker even invited all-star talent singer/songwriter Babyface to collaborate on a beautiful ballad on 24K Magic. Even the innovative and award-winning producer/songwriter/rapper/singer Missy Elliott visited Mars in the studio and reported back that the new tracks were “#INCREDIBLE!”

So far, we’ve heard the album’s party-starting title track and lead single “24K Magic” as well as the epic R&B jam “Versace on the Floor,” which ring true to classic Bruno while broadening his sound. We can’t wait to hear the rest the album.